culver



UNITED STATES PATENT @FFICE E. GULVER, JR., OF SHELBURNE FALLS, MASSACHUSETTS, ASSIGNOR TO HIMSELF AND S. M. BLAGKVVELL, OF SAME PLAGE.

CLOTHES-HORSE.

Specification of Letters Patent No. 21,231, dated August 17, 1858.

To all 'whom t may concern:

Be it known that I, E. CULVER, Jr., of Shelburne Falls, in the county of Franklin and State of Massachusetts, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in the Article Known as a Clothes-Horse, for Drying Clothes, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, making part of `this specification, in whichd Figure 1 is a view of my improved horse; Fig. 2, a detail to be referred to hereafter.

I am aware that a clothes horse has been made in which the rods for holding the clothes were pivoted at their ends in such a manner that the whole apparatus could be folded up and be caused to occupy a coinparatively small space when it was not in use, as it could be stood in a corner, against the wall. But such a folding horse as I refer to would not stand alone without support when folded up and out of use, while it required to be entirely distended before it could be used, and if but a few clothes were to be dried and a portion only of the rods were required they could not be had without occupying the floor with the whole apparatus. These objections I have overcome by supporting my frames or sections on a central self sustaining pedestal, and in so arranging the rods in sections that such portions only as may be required need be distended.

That others skilled in the art may understand and use my invention I will proceed to describe theway in which I have carried out the same.

` In the drawings A is a post or stand supported on feet a. Its form is shown in plan or end view in Fig. 2. To this post are attached and pivoted at c the rods b. The faces of the post on the sides to which the rods are attached are beveled as in Fig. 2, so that the rods which lie flat against the surface of the post shall be inclined to a vertical plane passing longitudinally through the post. A vertical rod el is placed over the ends of the rods Z9 and the screws 0 pass through both rods into the post A. This binds and steadies the rods so that they may be vibrated on their pivots c in a vertical plane parallel to the inclined face of the post A to which they are attached. As the arrangement of rods 4at the four angles of the post A are similar I will rst describe one set of them.

There are four of the rods pivoted as above described to the post A one above the other. To the outer ends of these rods is attached by screws e (which allow the rods to pivot) a vertical post f to which is attached by hinges at g another post z.. Another set of rods z' similar to Z2 connect this post to a post la, the rods pivoting at both ends. Thus we have `a frame or panel B composed of the post f and rods b and a panel C composed of the posts 72. and 7c and rods a at each corner of the post A, so that two panels B stand back to back. A set of shorter rods Z are pivoted at one end to one of the posts f and are furnished with hooks m at the other end to hook into staples on the adjoining post f. This braces and steadies the panels B when in the position shown on the right hand side of Fig. l. When it is desired to close all of the panels or any section of them, the rods Z are unhooked from the post f to which the staples are attached and drop down alongside of the post f to which they are pivoted (as at Z). Thepanel C is swung in on the hinges g, alongside of the panel B. The posts f and 7L are then raised, the rods and vibrating on their pivots, while the post 7c is held down alongside of the post A. This throws one section composed of the panels C and B into the position shown at D', the parts f, g, it, z' and if: occupying the positions f', g, it', t and lc. The other sections may in similar manner be closed up to the post A, and the whole apparatus will be supported on the feet a, occupying a very limited space on the floor compared with the extent of rods displayed when the sections are distended.

The panels C may be dispensed with, or another similar panel may be hinged to its outer post 7c, as a greater or less amount of rod surface is required.

I do not claim jointing the rods Z) to standards so that they may be folded up or to operate substantially as described for the spread out, but purpose set forth.

What I do claim as my invention and desire to secure by Letters Patent is* The combination of the panels B, panels C, and connecting links Z, Z', With -a self supporting pedestal A, the Whole arranged E. CULVER, JR.

In presence of- CHENARY PUFFER, R. J. WALKER. 

